To be perfectly honest, the 2021 NASCAR Cup season has definitely been entertaining. There were several storylines emerging during the course of the year. One of them involved Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin and Hendrick Motorsports driver, Alex Bowman. The two drivers tangled at the Richmond Raceway, and later on at Martinsville. Following the Martinsville race, a fuming Hamlin dubbed Bowman as a ‘hack’. Of course, this prompted a lot of backlash from Alex Bowman fans. However, the Hendrick driver suddenly played a reverse Uno card and turned it into a positive for himself. To be precise, he plastered Hamlin’s insults into T-shirt slogans. He said [https://www.sportscasting.com/alex-bowman-denny-hamlin-hack-comment-radio-interview-lesson-taught/], “Martinsville was definitely exciting. Sold a lot of t-shirts after that deal. Thanks to all the support from the fans on that one. I mean life lesson. If anybody ever is mean to you and calls you names, just put it on a t-shirt and you’ll do alright.” ALEX BOWMAN IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW SEASON AND A NEW CAMPAIGN Although he finished as the last of all his teammates, Bowman actually enjoyed a decent campaign. This is because he notched up the second-most wins out of all four Hendrick drivers, only behind Kyle Larson. Now, the #48 driver will be hoping for a little more consistency in his performances. This is because he finished up and down the order, despite the four wins under his belt. Alex Bowman celebrates in the NASCAR Cup Series [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-04-18T223538Z_1869475229_MT1USATODAY15924307_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-TOYOTA-OWNERS-400.jpg]Apr 18, 2021; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) celebrates after winning the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports Of course, he knows that next year he will have to battle past his teammates, especially Kyle Larson. However, the Hendrick Motorsports quartet will also be wary of the likes of Joe Gibbs, Penske, and Stewart-Haas. With the Next Gen cars not confirming a defined pecking order, anybody could emerge on top. Additionally, there is a chance that the teams who are normally in the midfield, could try and edge closer. READ MORE: WATCH: Alex Bowman Turns Denny Hamlin’s Insults Into a Massive Business Opportunity [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-watch-alex-bowman-turns-denny-hamlins-insults-into-a-massive-business-opportunity/] 

Earlier this year, Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman were involved in a big row. In
the aftermath and fallout, Bowman reflected on his lessons

Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. He not only writes engaging content but helps connect readers with some of the biggest racing names thanks to his ability to churn out exclusive interviews.

Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. When he's not writing about Stock Car Racing, he can be found reading and writing fan fiction.

Dhruv George

Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch.

Dhruv George | Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports

EssentiallySports

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Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. He not only writes engaging content but helps connect readers with some of the biggest racing names thanks to his ability to churn out exclusive interviews. Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. When he's not writing about Stock Car Racing, he can be found reading and writing fan fiction.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dhruv-George-1-96x96.png

Dhruv George is a senior Motorsports author for EssentiallySports, having
authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR,
Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the
Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1
driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino. He has been an ardent
follower of motorsports sport since 2001, holding Carlos Sainz Jr. and McLaren
in high regard.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dhruv_George.png

WATCH: Alex Bowman Turns Denny Hamlin’s Insults Into a Massive Business
Opportunity

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 60th Annual Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 18: Greg Ives, crew chief for Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 60th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 60th Annual Daytona 500 - EssentiallySports

Starting off as a tennis author in 2018, Varun Khanna has gone on to contribute to EssentiallySports in various capacities. After setting up interviews with the likes of Serena Williams? coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Aliz? Cornet, and Noah Rubin, Varun is now part of all major ATP and WTA press conferences and has gone on to pen more than 1300 articles for EssentiallySports. He now heads the tennis and NBA division of the organization. While writing remains a passion for him, Varun has branched out into the marketing and communications department of EssentiallySports as well. When he wants to relax, Varun doesn?t have to venture away from tennis and NBA; he simply tunes in to Rafael Nadal and Michael Jordan?s exploits in their respective sports, past and present.

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Varun Khanna

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strong

Alex Bowman Reflects on the ‘Life Lesson’ He Learnt From The Infamous Denny
Hamlin Episode

Kyle Busch’s Spotter is Left Infuriated as NASCAR Fans Question Richard
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MILLION DOLLAR BLING, Saudi Arabian Glory, World Title and More  Ft. Impa Kasanganay

Hendrick Motorsports

Read to find out all about the winningest NASCAR Cup Series team Hendrick Motorsports' Net Worth, Achievements, Awards, Stats and more!

Hendrick Motorsports: 2024 Net Worth, Stats, Owners and More

Hendrick Motorsports Archives

NASCAR

NASCAR Archives

LatestNASCAR - EssentiallySports News | EssentiallySports

<h1 style="text-align: center"><b>NASCAR Cup Series: Origin, Teams and More</b></h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the NASCAR Cup Series?</strong></h2>
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is the authorizing body for stock-vehicle racing in North America. It was established in 1948 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Currently, the organization fields four types of tracks: Intermediate tracks, Superspeedways, Short Tracks and Road Courses.

[caption id="attachment_2675743" align="alignnone" width="5162"]<img class="wp-image-2675743 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-20T005209Z_1919194866_MT1USATODAY22564783_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-DAYTONA-500.jpg" alt="NASCAR" width="5162" height="3322" /> Feb 19, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series drivers Corey LaJoie (7), Kyle Busch (8) and A.J. Allmendinger (16) race three wide for the lead during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Origin</strong></h2>
The first-ever NASCAR race was held at Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway on June 19, 1949 and Christian David "Jim" Roper was the victor after racer Glen Dunaway was disqualified for making illegal adjustments to his car.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On this day in 1949, NASCAR held its first-ever "Strictly Stock" race.</p>
Thirty-three drivers raced at Charlotte Speedway, six of which were future NASCAR Hall of Famers. Jim Roper was declared the winner following a disqualification to Glenn Dunaway. <a href="https://t.co/yBUDRcRxVo">pic.twitter.com/yBUDRcRxVo</a>

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1670832065690972160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Why is it named Cup Series? </strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series is the pinnacle of the racing arrangement in the NASCAR classification. The arrangement started in 1949 and was called the Strictly Stock Division. The series was subsequently known as the Grand National Division from 1950 to 1970.

Then, in 1971, it started renting its naming rights to the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and was alluded to as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series till 2003. From the next year onwards, the series came to be known as the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series till 2007 after a partnership with Nextel.

Sprint obtained Nextel in 2005 and 2008 saw the arrangement being renamed as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Sprint remained the sponsor of the NASCAR Cup from 2008 to 2016. It was reported in December 2016 that Monster Energy would be the sponsor; therefore, the arrangement was renamed the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series from 2017 to 2019.

However, after decades of name changes, in 2017, the organization finally decided to shed off its old image and simply be named as the NASCAR Cup Series, with series sponsors being called 'Premier Partners'.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the format of the Cup Series?</strong></h2>
The NASCAR points system has been a complicated affair to say the least. Over the years, the organization has tried several iterations, namely the Latford system, the Chase and the current elimination playoffs format among others, to discern one that would be fair to each driver.

While the earlier system saw drivers being awarded points on the basis of prize money in a particular race, in 1972 a new format was introduced. This time the points were awarded on the basis of laps completed. However, even that came with its own flaws and just two years later, in 1974, the organization introduced point calculation based on a mathematical formula. However, given the complexity of the equation, Bill France Jr, the former CEO of NASCAR decided to step in and call upon his close friend Bob Latford, to come up with an efficient way, which later came to be known as Boot Hill Format or the Latford Model.

With equal points awarded in all races, as New York Times aptly put it: <em>"Mr. Latford set up his points scale to reward consistency rather than flashes of brilliance, and drivers seem to like it that way."</em>

This system was perhaps the longest-running one during that time, being replaced in 2003, by The Chase format. Currently, the NASCAR Cup Series operates on the Playoff Format. The schedule consists of 31 oval races, 4 road course races, one street track race, and 4 non-championship races to be held on ovals. This also includes 16 playoff races, with four elimination rounds, namely, Round of 16, Round of 12, Round of 4 and Championship 4.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Teams</strong></h2>
As of 2024, the NASCAR Cup Series has 16 full-time teams participating and three manufacturers, namely Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford. As for the team with the most number of victories and championship, Hendrick Motorsports has has an undebatable upper hand, with 305 Cup Series wins and 14 drivers championships.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Venue</strong></h2>
The first championship race was reportedly held at Martinsville Speedway, a half-mile oval, on October 16, 1949. Currently, the final race of a Cup season is held at the Phoenix Raceway, which is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona, near Phoenix.

[caption id="attachment_1351857" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1351857 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-11-07T003206Z_1075855806_MT1USATODAY19376372_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-CUP-CHAMPIONSHIP.jpg" alt="Joey Logano NASCAR" width="1920" height="1289" /> Nov 6, 2022; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) races in the final laps of the Cup championship at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Championship</strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series hosts three different championship under one name: The Driver's Championship, the Owner's Championship and the Manufacturer's Championship. The driver's championship as the name suggests is the award given to the driver that has emerged as the winner at the end of a season. On the other hand, the Owner's Championship aims to reward the team at the top of the points standings. The driver with the most championship wins are Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. Additionally, Rick Hendrick-owned Hendrick Motorsports has won a record-breaking 14 championships till date.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1195372 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/ezgif.com-gif-maker-3-78.jpg" alt="Richard Petty Dale Earnhardt NASCAR" width="1850" height="1253" />

On a similar note, the Manufacturer's Championship sees Original Equipment Manufacturers(OEMs) being awarded a championship based on how races their cars managed to dominate and the points accumulated. In this regard, US-based manufacturer Chevrolet has racked up the most Cup Series wins at 42, followed by Ford at 17, and Toyota at 3.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Track Types</strong></h2>
As mentioned earlier, the NASCAR Cup series organizes its races on four different types of tracks, namely, Intermediate tracks, Superspeedways, Short Tracks and Road Courses.

When it comes to Intermediate tracks, it simply means <em>"any track greater than one mile in length, with the exception of both Daytona and Talladega" </em>according to the official NASCAR website and currently the Cup Series drivers compete on the following Intermediate tracks/Speedways :
<ul>
 	<li>Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.540-mile, Quad-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.500-mile Quad-Oval, including a 2.280 miles Road Course)</li>
 	<li>Darlington Raceway (1.366-mile, Egg-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Dover Motor Speedway (1.000-mile, Concrete Oval)</li>
 	<li>Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.500-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Kansas Speedway (1.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Michigan International Speedway (2.000-mile, D-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Nashville Superspeedway (1.333-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-mile, Paperclip Oval)</li>
 	<li>Phoenix Raceway (1.000-mile, Dogleg Oval)</li>
 	<li>Texas Motor Speedway (1.500-mile, Quad-Oval)</li>
 	<li>World Wide Technology Raceway (1.250-mile, Egg-Shaped Oval)</li>
</ul>
On the other hand, Superspeedways ae oval road courses of two miles or longer. Currently, the NASCAR Cup Series has the following Superspeedways:
<ul>
 	<li>Auto Club Speedway (2.000-mile, D-Shaped Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Chicagoland Speedway (1.500-mile, D-Shaped Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Daytona International Speedway (2.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Kentucky Speedway (1.500-mile, D-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Pocono Raceway (2.500-mile, Triangular Oval)</li>
 	<li>Talladega Superspeedway (2.660-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
</ul>
The short tracks (less than 1 mile in length) that are part of NASCAR are:
<ul>
 	<li>Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Eldora Speedway (0.500-mile, Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Iowa Speedway (0.875-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Knoxville Raceway (0.500-mile, Oval</li>
 	<li>Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)</li>
 	<li>Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (0.686-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile, Paperclip Oval)</li>
 	<li>Milwaukee Mile Speedway (1.015-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>North Wilkesboro Speedway (0.625-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Richmond Raceway (0.750-mile, D-shaped Oval)</li>
</ul>
As for Road Courses, NASCAR makes use of the following race tracks:
<ul>
 	<li>Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (2.459-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Chicago Street Race (2.14 miles)</li>
 	<li>Circuit of the Americas (3.426-mile)</li>
 	<li>DAYTONA Road Course (4.170-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (2.400-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Portland International Raceway (1.967-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Road America(4.048-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Sebring Raceway (3.741 mi, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Sonoma Raceway (1.99-mile)</li>
 	<li>Watkins Glen International (2.45-mile)</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Crown Jewel Races</strong></h2>
While NASCAR has several racetracks that it competes on, there are a couple venues that are held in high regards. Currently there are four such venues/races, namely the Daytona 500 held at the Daytona International Speedway, the Coca-Cola 500 held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway , the Brickyard 400/Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway.

Till date, Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman and retired NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon has the most number of Crown Jewel race wins (21), followed by Legacy Motor Club team owner Jimmie Johnson (14) and retired NASCAR driver Bobby Allison (13).

[caption id="attachment_1691261" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1691261 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Jimmie-Johnson-Jeff-Gordon.jpg" alt="Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon" width="1920" height="1280" /> January 20, 2017 - Charlotte, North Carolina, USA - Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon introduce Rick Hendrick at the NASCAR Motorsport USA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, January 20, 2017, in Charlotte, N.C. Rick Hendrick was inducted into the Hall of Fame with Richard Childress, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks, and Benny Parsons. 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - ZUMAw123 20170120_zap_w123_024[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Cars</strong></h2>
NASCAR is an ever-evolving sport and till date, there have been several iterations of the cars used during races. If we go back to the very inception of the sport, the first kind of vehicle that was used used to be called Generation - 1 (1948-1966), followed by Generation - 2 (1967-1980) and Generation - 3 (1981-1991). Later the Generation - 4 (1992 to 2007) was introduced , and then Generation - 5 (2007 -2012) and Generation - 6 (2013-2021) came into play. And currently, NASCAR features the Generation - 7 car that is also known as the Next-Gen.

Anothe notable model was the Generation - 5. Dubbed as the<em> "Car of Tomorrow"</em>, this model featured flaunted prominent front splitters under the bumpers and larger rear wings. Apart from that, according to NASCAR, the car also had <em>"significant safety advancements and a return to symmetrical bodies". </em>

[caption id="attachment_2651610" align="alignnone" width="3461"]<img class="wp-image-2651610 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-16T030626Z_974940649_MT1USATODAY22533198_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-BLUEGREEN-VACATIONS-DUEL-1-AT-DAYTONA.jpg" alt="" width="3461" height="2307" /> Feb 15, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) during the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Street Course</strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series has come a long way since its initial days. The organization has always been open to developments and one of the most exciting ones came in 2023,when the tourney made its Street Course debut at Chicago.

In a bid to turn make the schedule even more exciting, NASCAR officials were reportedly in talks with Chicago authorities for a number of years, with one attempt of a Chicago street race even dating back to the 1980s. However, owing to political pressure, that plan failed to materialize. Now, fast forward to four decades later and authorities were finally geared up to host an exciting, first-of-its-kind race in downtown Chicago.

[caption id="attachment_1911252" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1911252 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-07-03T052154Z_1117738559_MT1USATODAY20983749_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-GRANT-PARK-220.jpg" alt="NASCAR" width="1920" height="1280" /> Jul 2, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A general view as cars race along Grant Park during the Grant Park 220 of the Chicago Street Race viewed from the NEMA Chicago buliding. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

Designed by race simulation video game developer iRacing, the race aimed to showcase the city's major landmarks such as the Buckingham Fountain, the Grant Park and the Soldier Field Stadium, among others.

The first iteration of the race came in July of 2023, with New Zealand born driver Shane van Gisbergen clinching victory in his first-ever NASCAR race. If that's not iconic, what is?

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2804674 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/F0HhwcqXoAI3_zb.jpeg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365" />
<table style="width: 75.2357%;height: 264px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR Cup Series</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Place of Origin</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Year of Origin</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">1949</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">First Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR "Strictly Stock" Race, Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Last Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR Cup Series Spring Race at Martinsville Speedway, 2024</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Crown Jewel Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Daytona 500, Coca Cola 600, Brickyard 400/ Verizon 200, Southern 500</span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Drivers with the most Championships</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Richard Petty (7), Dale Earnhardt (7) and Jimmie Johnson(7)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Team with the most Championships</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Hendrick Motorsports (14)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">First Champion</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Red Byron</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Defending Champion</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Ryan Blaney (2023)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Defending Team</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Team Penske</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

NASCAR Cup Series

Here's everything you need to know about the NASCAR Cup Series, its Origin, Teams, History, Venues, Crown Jewel Races and more!

NASCAR Cup Series: Origin, Teams and More

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Earlier this year, Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman were involved in a big row. In the aftermath and fallout, Bowman reflected on his lessons

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<h1 style="text-align: center"><b>Alex Bowman: Net Worth 2024, Stats, Salary, Wife and More</b></h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Who is Alex Bowman? </b></h2>
Alex Bowman is an American racing driver. Currently, he contends full time in the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a>, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/hendrick-motorsports/">Hendrick Motorsports</a>. He even owns a Dirt Midget group named Alex Bowman Racing.

[caption id="attachment_2651649" align="alignnone" width="4182"]<img class="wp-image-2651649 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-16T231054Z_1099857015_MT1USATODAY22539943_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-CUP-PRACTICE.jpg" alt="Alex Bowman" width="4182" height="2788" /> Feb 16, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Alex Bowman's Early Life</b></h2>
Alex Bowman is originally from Tucson, Arizona. While not much is known about his mother and siblings, the driver has always been close to his father Sean Bowman. The racer first got acquainted with racing at the age of seven when he started competing on short tracks, driving quarter midget cars at United States Auto Club competition. Slowly rising up the ranks, Bowman entered NASCAR in 2010 when he participated in the K&amp;N Pro Series (East &amp; West).
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Alex Bowman’s Wife and Children</b></h2>
The HMS driver is rumored to be dating Crystal Marsh, but none of them have confirmed the relationship. Notably, Marsh accompanied Bowman to the NASCAR Awards banquet on multiple occasions.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Alex Bowman Net Worth 2024 </b></h2>
Alex Bowman reportedly has a net worth of $10 million and his current salary with Hendrick Motorsports has been estimated to be around $3.5 million.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Alex Bowman’s Career Timeline</b></h2>
Like it was mentioned above, Alex Bowman first started racing when he was just seven years old on short tracks in the USAC. He then moved on to midget racing, where he won the USAC National Focus Midget championship in 2008. Then, two years later, at the age of 17, Bowman debuted in the K&amp;N Pro Series East. He also had a brief stint in the ARCA Racing Series where he competed for Venturini Motorsports and then for Cunningham Motorsports as a developmental driver for Penske Racing.

Subsequently, Bowman entered the top NASCAR divisions in 2012 when he debuted in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2012 at Chicagoland Speedway, where he finished P17. The driver made his Cup Series debut in 2014 for BK Racing, driving the #23 Toyota. He finished P23 in his very first race in the division.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Alex Bowman’s Partnerships and Endorsements</b></h2>
Alex Bowman has been a significant part of Hendrick Motorsports ever since he joined the team. So, naturally the driver is backed by big names in the industry that include Chevrolet, Ally Financial, HendrickCars.com

[caption id="attachment_935013" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-935013 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1370798239.jpg" alt="ALEX BOWMAN" width="1920" height="1280" /> DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Alex Bowman’s NASCAR Career Stats</b></h2>
In the NASCAR Cup Series, Alex Bowman has an Average Start and Average Finish of 18.3 and 19.78 respectively. Apart from that, the driver has also clinched seven victories in 290 races so far, along with 81 Top-10s and four pole positions.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Alex Bowman’s Major Achievements and Awards</b></h2>
Alex Bowman has garnered a number of accolades over the year. He won the Rookie of the Year title in both K&amp;N Pro Series East and the ARCA Racing Series in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Apart from that, the driver also secured pole position for the revered <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/daytona-500/">Daytona 500</a> in 2018, 2021, and 2023.

[caption id="attachment_934736" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-934736 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-02-17T033254Z_809486832_MT1USATODAY17701310_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-DAYTONA-500-QUALIFYING.jpg" alt="Alex Bowman" width="1920" height="1286" /> Feb 16, 2022; Daytona, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) qualifies second for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Alex Bowman's Investments</b></h2>
HMS' Alex Bowman is not just a racer as he also dons an owner's cap when it comes to his team, Alex Bowman Racing. In early 2024, the driver also fielded three entries, namely Jake Swanson (55A), C.J. Leary (55V) and Kevin Thomas Jr. (55X), in the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-humble-beginnings-origins-of-the-legendary-chili-bowl/">prestigious dirt midget event, the Chili Bowl Nationals</a>.

https://twitter.com/ABR_teams/status/1740528632462787031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1740528632462787031%7Ctwgr%5Ef796ca0c860610a5551eb0ae677630c00231e69f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hendrickmotorsports.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2F131166%2Falex-bowman-racing-chili-bowl-entries
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b> Alex Bowman and the 2023 playoffs</b></h2>
While Alex Bowman has been showing blistering performances in the Cup Series since his debut, 2023 proved to a bad year for him. The driver was, unfortunately, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-alex-bowman-confesses-career-shortening-consequences-of-his-back-breaking-injury-that-derailed-twenty-twenty-three-season/">a victim of a fractured vertebra after sprint car crash</a> in April that year. The incident occurred during a sprint car event at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, which ultimately saw him miss four races and the Cup Series playoffs. Notably, that was the first time that the driver missed the playoffs in his Hendrick Motorsports career.

Later, perhaps as a precautionary measure, the driver decided to put a pause on his Winged Sprint Car and Midget car racing for the <em>"foreseeable future"</em>.<em> “I’ve missed, what, 10 Cup races in the last two years for injuries? For Ally and Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet and everybody that puts so much into the 48 program, I can’t afford to miss more races. I need to be in the car every week. You look at what it did to us this year, we go from being extremely strong and up front in points every week to a really tough rest of the year. I don’t need to do that again,"</em> Bowman had told Dave Moody on the SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, according to FloRacing.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Alex Bowman Social Media</b></h2>
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<td style="width: 21.8529%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td style="width: 94.1534%;height: 24px"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexbowmanofficial/">https://www.facebook.com/alexbowmanofficial/</a></td>
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<td style="width: 21.8529%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td style="width: 94.1534%;height: 24px"><a href="https://twitter.com/Alex_Bowman">https://twitter.com/Alex_Bowman</a></td>
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<td style="width: 21.8529%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter</span></td>
<td style="width: 94.1534%;height: 24px"><a href="https://twitter.com/Alex_Bowman">https://twitter.com/Alex_Bowman</a></td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">Alexander Michael Warren Bowman</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Popular Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">Alex Bowman</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Place </span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">Tucson, Arizona, U.S.</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Date</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">April 25, 1993</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Age</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">30 (as of March 2024)</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Height</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Weight (in pounds)</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">178 lb (81 kg)</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Parents </span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">Sean Bowman</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Siblings</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px"> -</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Nationality</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">American</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethnicity</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">Caucasian</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Net Worth</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">Approx. $10 million</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Salary</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">Approx. $3.5 million</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 48px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Relationship/Marital Status</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 48px"> Reportedly dating Crystal Marsh</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Spouse</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px"> -</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Children</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px"> -</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Profession </span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">Stock car racing driver</td>
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<td style="width: 22.0864%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Team</span></td>
<td style="width: 329.856%;height: 24px">Hendrick Motorsports</td>
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